Five Crazy Ways People Got the Attention of Hiring Managers

Check out what these five people did to stand out among all the traditional applicants. They’re so “crazy” and so darn creative that they didn’t just get the company to pay attention, but the internet, too.

1. Designed a Resume Made of Legos

Photo of lego resume courtesy of Mashable/IMGUR, PASTLIGHTSPEED.

It’s one thing to list graphic design experience and creative prowess on your resume, but it’s much more impactful to make the leap from mere words to visual illustrations.

Leah Bowman took this reasoning to heart. In lieu of submitting a traditional resume, Bowman sent in customized packets of Lego sets, prompting potential hiring managers to “build the perfect account service intern.”

It worked: The Northwestern grad secured a role as an intern—and then a full-time job—working in advertising in Chicago.

2. Made an Interactive Video

Maybe you’re not equipped to create a customized Lego set, but how about a video?

Resumes can often be difficult to get through and feel pretty impersonal. That’s why Graeme Anthony decided to make an interactive video resume instead.

Anthony’s video includes links to different sections, including “About Me,” “Portfolio,” as well as a “Timeline.”

He sent that video to multiple recruiters—and it looks like his effort to make their jobs a little more interesting paid off. Anthony received multiple interviews, a job offer, and 400,000 YouTube views. He’s worked in a number of different PR and social media roles since.

3. Bought a Google Ad

What if I told you that spending a whopping six dollars could land you a job?

Well, that’s what Alec Brownstein did. Brownstein bought a Google ad, targeting the names of several advertising executives—one of whom was Ian Reichenthal. When Reichenthal Googled his own name (as we all inevitably do), he found Brownstein’s tailored ad. Reichenthal offered Brownstein the chance to interview and eventually gave him a job offer at his advertising firm.

Since then, Brownstein has gone on to do some pretty awesome things. According to his LinkedIn profile (which showcases his unique, humorous approach to the job search), he’s now a creative director at Dollar Shave Club.

4. Imitated the Employer’s Website

Photo of Pinterest profile courtesy of The Next Web.

How do you get a job at popular place like Pinterest? By showing you know the site inside and out!

Jeanne Hwang Lam built out an extensive CV for Pinterest—on Pinterest (meta, I know). She created a resume by pinning different images together, with different sections such as “fit,” “passion,” “experience,” and “rockstar skills.” By investing so much time in tailoring an application specifically for Pinterest, she showed that she was seriously passionate about being there.

While Hwang didn’t end up getting an offer from Pinterest, her creative efforts attracted the attention of a Pinterest analytics site called Pintics, which offered her a position. After graduating from Harvard Business School, Hwang has held impressive marketing roles at fast-growing startups, including 3D printing marketplace Shapeways.